HR Chapter 47

Chapter 47 Shang Ze

There’s a saying in Shang Ze City about the Si Cheng family: “With Si, there is a city; Shang Ze knows no worry.”

The Si Cheng family is the symbol of Shang Ze City, the very sky above it.

Rumor has it that the Si Cheng family has two sons. The eldest, Si Cheng Zhengzhe, is as gentle as jade, as humble as bamboo, never showing his emotions, and possessing unfathomable depths. The second, Si Cheng Zhengli, is as fiery as a blaze, as mischievous as a monkey, strict and upright, and unconcerned with trivialities. The two brothers have completely opposite personalities: one still, one active; one relaxed, one tense. Si Cheng Zhengzhe manages the family business, while the hot-tempered Si Cheng Zhengli inherited the family profession and became a doctor.

In fact, the Si Cheng family has another son named Si Cheng Jianyi, but he often calls himself Jian Qilu. He doesn’t use his father’s surname but his mother’s. Others respect him by calling him Seventh Young Master, which is Jian Qilu.

That’s all that could be found. The Si Cheng family’s security is even tighter than Lu Qinyuan had imagined.

Shang Ning to Shang Ze is at most a three-hour drive. At this speed, they should arrive in time for dinner.

Xiao Qi had been silent since getting in the car, one hand constantly stroking the mutton-fat jade Buddha beads on his wrist. Lu Qinyuan took Xiao Qi’s hand and looked at it, then held Xiao Qi’s hand in his palm, closing his eyes to rest.

Lu Qinyuan had many questions in his mind, coming in a jumble and so complex that he didn’t know where to start. Xiao Qi wasn’t calm either. He also had many things he wanted to tell Lu Qinyuan, but Lu Qinyuan didn’t ask, and he didn’t know where to begin.

Let nature take its course. What should be known will be known sooner or later; what shouldn’t be known will be known when the time comes.

Lu Qinyuan’s palm was warm and broad, completely enveloping Xiao Qi’s hand, like a ray of sunshine surrounding Xiao Qi’s heart, warm and reassuring. Xiao Qi moved closer to Lu Qinyuan and slowly fell asleep against Lu Qinyuan’s shoulder.

White, endless white, slender needles, transparent tubes filled with blood, black, icy black, ruthless eyes, filled with ardent, fanatical obsession.

A doctor wearing a white coat and a smiling face mask held a syringe and said with a smile, “It’s time for your injection, Seventh Young Master. I’ve lowered the dosage today, so it won’t hurt. I’ll go slowly, don’t be afraid, Seventh Young Master…”

Sometimes it was a crying face, holding a bowl of medicine: “Seventh Young Master, it’s time to take your medicine. You have to be good. If you don’t take your medicine, you’ll die tomorrow. You can’t miss a day…”

A long tube extended from his mouth into his stomach. Xiao Qi felt his stomach slowly filling with bitterness. The doctor wearing a tongue-sticking-out mask put down the bowl of medicine, smiling very smugly, and said, “This way, you won’t throw up…”

The medicine was so bitter, bitter in his mouth and in his heart. He wanted to drink water, wanted to eat candy, wanted… wanted to cry, wanted to cry loudly, wanted everyone to hear his cries, to let everyone know that he didn’t want to drink the medicine anymore, didn’t want to drink it, okay?

“Okay, please…” Xiao Qi suddenly muttered in his sleep, a tear rolling down the corner of his eye. Lu Qinyuan reached out his other hand to wipe away the tear from Xiao Qi’s eye and said softly, “Okay, we won’t do things we don’t like or don’t want to do, okay?”

This voice made Xiao Qi feel safe and reliable. He whimpered twice before gradually settling down.

Lu Qinyuan turned his body and directly pulled Xiao Qi into his arms, carefully wiping away his tear stains while asking, “Do you recognize this Seventh Young Master of yours?”

There were three people in the car. Xiao Qi was sleeping. Lu Qinyuan was naturally asking the elite man driving the car, but the elite man didn’t answer. Lu Qinyuan kicked the back of the seat, the force of which startled the elite man into swerving, almost sending the car and its occupants off the road. Lu Qinyuan sneered, “If you don’t speak, I’ll let you die here!”

The elite man’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his palms were also sweaty. But before they came, they had been personally instructed by the eldest young master to guard their mouths. Things that shouldn’t be said shouldn’t be said, otherwise… otherwise, the consequences usually weren’t good. The eldest young master’s consequences were usually worse than others.

Lu Qinyuan gently cupped Xiao Qi’s ears with both hands, threatening in a low voice, “If Seventh Young Master were to die in an accidental car accident, according to the nature of Si Cheng Da Shao, who would he look for to pay with their life? If it were me, I would definitely look for the driver, so stupid that he can’t even drive a car properly. His family must also be stupid to death, better off dead than alive.”

The elite man swallowed nervously, cold sweat continuously dripping. But clearly, Si Cheng Zhengzhe’s terror was deeply imprinted in his mind, making him afraid to speak rashly. And he didn’t know that the person sitting in the car was no less terrifying than Si Cheng Zhengzhe, even slightly more so.

Lu Qinyuan looked down at Xiao Qi’s peaceful sleeping face, smiling gently, “I originally didn’t want to make things difficult for you, but I find it unacceptable that you can’t even answer such a simple question. Naturally, you have your rules to follow, but I also have my rules to establish. I’ve always been strict with my subordinates. No one has ever dared to not answer when I ask a question. Even if you want to answer my question now, I can’t accept it anymore. You didn’t take the opportunity to answer, and you had to see the coffin before you knew how severe things were? If you want to prove your loyalty, you have to see who you’re in front of and in what way. My title of Weak Yama King wasn’t just shouted out; it was dyed with people’s blood. Shang Ze is different from Shang Ning. Shang Ze’s methods of killing people are more civilized. Perhaps I can open your eyes and let you see the brutality of Shang Ning…”

The road was long, and Xiao Qi slept extremely soundly. Lu Qinyuan tormented the elite man with words, changing his style as if they were just chatting, until they arrived in Shang Ze. As the car drove into Si Cheng Zhengzhe’s villa, the elite man collapsed onto the steering wheel, his clothes already soaked with sweat.

Lu Qinyuan chuckled, shook Xiao Qi awake, opened the car door, and got out of the car. Zhong Wu Rui came over with another elite man. That elite man looked curiously into the car. Lu Qinyuan reached out to help Xiao Qi, praising, “The Si Cheng family is indeed a century-old noble family. The rules they teach are very good. Admirable!”

Zhong Wu Rui said to the elite man beside him, “Go take a look, take him to see a doctor.”

Xiao Qi was drowsy, rubbing his eyes and asking, “Are we there? Where is this?”

Zhong Wu Rui said, “This is the eldest young master’s villa. You’ll be staying here from now on.”

“A house sparrow raised in captivity won’t turn into a wild sparrow even if it flies around outside. It’ll starve to death if no one feeds it.” An old, deep voice came from behind them. The three of them looked over at the same time, seeing an old man with graying temples slowly approaching, leaning on a cane. Behind him were several middle-aged men, all around fifty years old, with serious faces and not uttering a word, but their eyes showed joy when they saw Xiao Qi.

Zhong Wu Rui lowered his head slightly, respectfully saying, “Old Master.”

Si Cheng Houzai stopped in front of Zhong Wu Rui. His beard and hair were white, and the wrinkles on his face were as deep as ravines, but his eyes were still bright and piercing. His gaze fell on Lu Qinyuan, squinting his eyes for a long time without recognizing him: “This one looks unfamiliar.”

Zhong Wu Rui said, “He is a guest of the eldest young master.”

“Oh.” Si Cheng Houzai said thoughtfully, taking two steps toward Lu Qinyuan, looking at Xiao Qi who was hiding behind Lu Qinyuan, and said, “Your father went crazy after you left. He went crazy for your mother before, and now he’s going crazy for you. If you have any filial piety as a son, go back and see your grandfather. If you see him, you’ll know how much your father values you.”

Xiao Qi poked half his head out from behind Lu Qinyuan, tightly gripping Lu Qinyuan’s hand, the palm of which was slightly damp with sweat, but he said lightly, “Grandpa, promise me one thing: let this person go back with me.”

Si Cheng Houzai said amiably, “It’s not a big deal, I can.” He turned to Zhong Wu Rui and said, “If Zhengzhe has any dissatisfaction when he comes back, he can come and find me.” Saying this, he sighed.

Zhong Wu Rui replied, “Yes.” Not saying another word.

Si Cheng Houzai looked at Zhong Wu Rui, then sighed heavily again, leaning on his cane and tottering back.

The sun had already set, leaving only a sliver of rosy glow. Calculating the time, it was time for dinner. Lu Qinyuan stopped Xiao Qi, who was about to follow, saying, “We haven’t even entered the door or had tea. This hospitality is not at all in line with the Si Cheng family’s status. Besides, I would already be sitting at the dinner table eating at this time.”

Si Cheng Houzai, who had walked not far away, stopped and turned half his body. Before he could speak, one of the middle-aged men who had come with Si Cheng Houzai, who looked refined and cultured, exclaimed in dissatisfaction, “Impudence! The Old Master has already given you great face by personally inviting you, and you still don’t know how to restrain yourself!”

Si Cheng Houzai waved his hand. The middle-aged man snorted coldly and shut his mouth. Si Cheng Houzai said, “Every mountain has its own rules. Since you’re standing on Shang Ze’s ground, you have to abide by the Si Cheng family’s rules. Guest follows the host is proper etiquette. To turn guest into host? Heh heh, young man, you should restrain yourself.”

Lu Qinyuan laughed, “I was originally very well-mannered, but my stomach has been pampered and can’t abide by this etiquette of guest following the host.”

Si Cheng Houzai asked with a smile, “Young man, what is your esteemed surname?”

Lu Qinyuan said, “All things return to the origin, bestowed with heavenly favor, Yuan Qin.”

“Yuan Qin’s stomach is delicate. My Si Cheng family has medicine, it just depends on whether Yuan Qin dares to come and take it.” After Si Cheng Houzai finished speaking, he turned and slowly walked away, supported by his cane, and walked into the midst of those people, surrounded by them. Si Cheng Houzai paused slightly, and the crowd stopped with him. Si Cheng Houzai said, “Very well, at the latest tomorrow, Xiao Qi must not be willful anymore.”

The people beside him were anxious, “Old Master!”

Si Cheng Houzai shook his head, “It doesn’t matter. A house sparrow that has a new master is still a house sparrow, it can’t leave the birdcage. That Yuan Qin kid is not simple. Don’t offend him casually before you’ve investigated him thoroughly. The people sent out before couldn’t find Jianyi, it should also be because he’s under this person’s protection.” The crowd answered yes, protecting Si Cheng Houzai into the car and leaving.

Seeing Si Cheng Houzai off, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Their impression of Lu Qinyuan had changed. Xiao Qi was even happier, taking Lu Qinyuan’s hand and walking into the house, asking, “Why did you change your surname to Yuan?”

Lu Qinyuan said, “I suddenly remembered that Lu Jianwei, that old bastard, had a feud with this old fellow years ago.”

Xiao Qi asked, “Is it very serious?”

“It’s nothing. When Lu Jianwei was young and fierce, he crippled your uncle.” Lu Qinyuan said to Zhong Wu Rui, “Mr. Zhong should know about this.”

At this time, Zhong Wu Rui’s phone rang. Zhong Wu Rui glanced at the caller ID and was about to hang up when he answered, and from the time he answered to the time he hung up, Zhong Wu Rui only said three words: “Okay, hang up.” The expression on his face changed slightly, but he quickly concealed his emotions and said to Xiao Qi, “Da Shao said to trouble Seventh Young Master to go back and stay for two days, and he’ll pick you up soon.”

The three of them walked together into the villa. Servants kept passing by on the road, saluting and greeting Zhong Wu Rui, looking as if they were treating him as the head of the family. Zhong Wu Rui’s expression was indifferent as usual, and he seemed to be used to it, leading Xiao Qi and Lu Qinyuan directly into the dining area.

The dining area was extremely luxurious. Not to mention the abundance and exquisite nature of the food, just the number of people serving the meal was more than twenty, and more people kept coming in. The display of grandeur was, to say the least, exaggerated.

Not to mention the captive Xiao Qi, even Lu Qinyuan felt very uncomfortable. Zhong Wu Rui’s indifferent expression turned slightly cold when he saw this spectacle and said softly, “All of you, leave.”